The Well Magazine Fall/Winter 2015 | Página 9

Spirit only option is to endure it until subsides. Joseph probably could have understood had his betrayal been at the hand of strangers but, at the hand of his very own brothers, the betrayal must have been very difficult to endure. This pain had to leave Joseph speechless. Pondering it over and over again, “Why would my brothers do this to me”? (You know, the way we all obsess over emotional situations that leave us shocked and wounded.) But, the real question becomes, how would Joseph respond to this pain? How would he process all the unanswered questions in his heart? Joseph could spend the rest of his life being bitter and hating his brothers or Joseph could look to the “all seeing” God of his fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for strength, courage and direction. As we continue to read the account in the bible, we find that this devastating betrayal actually launched Joseph into his destiny. By Joseph trusting in God, his pain positioned him to discover his hidden talent of leadership. Isn’t that amazing? Pain can actually launch us into our destiny. Had the brothers not betrayed him, he would not have been in place to give provision to his family when the famine came. The promise of Romans 8:28 now comes to life “All things work together for the good of them that are called. Joseph prospered beyond the pain simply because he made the choice to trust God. Joseph became the Governor of Egypt and the conduit for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham and bless Jacob. Joseph experienced pain; but, that pain positioned Joseph to fulfill his purpose. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."…she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.…” Luke 1:28-31 What…pregnant? She must have thought to herself “But, I’m engaged to be married soon, I can’t be pregnant before the wedding?” In Mary’s day, this was quite the disgrace. Talk about emotional pain. Mary had to endure both community embarrassment and family disgrace. What would her parents think? How will she show her face in the market place? And, most of all, how would she tell her fiancé’? I’m sure it crossed Mary’s mind to ask that tormenting question that we have all asked God at one point or another, “God, why me?” It seems that God often shakes our world to usher us into our next season of life. Not that God seeks to hurt us; but, most transitions are painful. I liken this to a parent that allows the toddler to fall as he or she learns to walk. It is not a cruel act but an act of love. The child must learn to walk and if falling is a part of the process, so be it. The parent must focus on the long term good. Likewise, God is most concerned with preparing us long term to ensure that we get to that place where He has ordained for us to be. And pain is a necessary element of most transitions. God gave his only Son so that we could experience a “protected” relationship with Him. Jesus endured the “pain” of the cross to give us a glorious life in Christ. Look at the grace of God in Mary’s situation. God deals with Joseph and causes him to not judge Mary’s pregnancy harshly. Mary’s emotional pain became life for all of us. Mary’s painful experience became The Gift of the world. Mary’s pain launched all of us into our spiritual destiny. Could it be that sometimes pain is the sound of an alarm that could develop us? That our pain is an alarm that just might save our life? Next time you experience a heart break, think about the soundtrack in the “Color Purple.” Maybe God is trying to tell you something! Let’s examine another biblical account and then back to my testimony… Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. She had maintained her purity throughout her years. And, now the day she had dreamed of for so long was about to come to pass. Until, of course, she has a life changing visit from an Angel of Lord that turned her world upside down. Pain is sometimes the only way to the next season. CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Fall/Winter 2015 The Well Magazine 9